World class tube reliability

Caroline Russell: Transport for London (TfL) have been focused on getting the highest timetable services possible from existing train fleets. There have been major issues on the Jubilee and Central lines where a lack of available trains has severely cut the service. What assessment has TfL made of the risks to the reliability of high frequency services when operating with fewer spare trains?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL’s) levels of train availability are comparable with other metro systems across the world. They strike the right balance between providing the maximum service to customers on London’s very crowded system, while providing sufficient trains for normal maintenance activities and the day-to-day faults that arise on each fleet.
TfL assesses all timetable changes in advance to ensure that the level and duration of train availability required by the timetable can be met in normal circumstances.
At the end of 2019, the Jubilee line experienced extraordinary circumstances where a specific problem was found on some trains, requiring them to be withdrawn from service for safety reasons. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence. Were TfL to plan for a timetable using fewer trains, it would only be able to run the off-peak service level during peak times. This would be unacceptable on the very busy Jubilee line if it was done merely as insurance against train failures that do not normally arise on this scale. With respect to the most recent faults identified on some Jubilee line trains, all trains initially taken out of service have now re-entered customer service, and TfL has been consistently operating a normal service on the Jubilee line since the start of the year, aside from any unrelated issues on the network.
The situation on the Central line is different, where the fleet experiences reliability issues on a day to day basis, rather than a one-off specific problem as on the Jubilee line. To address this, TfL is undertaking the £380m Central Line Improvement Programme (CLIP), which will significantly improve the reliability of the fleet when completed in 2023. This includes replacing their motors, electrical and mechanical parts, as well as introducing CCTV and wheelchair bays.

Crossrail 2

Joanne McCartney: What ongoing discussions are taking place between your office/TfL and the government on delivering Crossrail 2 which would benefit my constituents in Enfield & Haringey? Is the government committed to delivering this essential new rail line?

The Mayor: Crossrail 2 would bring improvements in capacity and connectivity to the boroughs of Enfield and Haringey, and would unlock the development of tens of thousands of homes, especially in the upper Lea Valley. Transport for London (TfL) is working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the development of the project. Last autumn the DfT scrutinised TfL’s revised Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) and is satisfied that there is a very strong case for the scheme. The business case incorporated all the recommendations of last year’s Independent Affordability Review to make the scheme more affordable to the taxpayer.
TfL now awaits a decision from ministers on the railway’s route, possible phasing and funding. This may form part of the Government’s National Infrastructure Strategy. We must continue to progress the safeguarding of the route and agree a realistic plan for delivery, building on the funding package set out in the SOBC but recognising the impact of the requirement placed on London to cover the full impact of Crossrail 1 cost increases. Crossrail 2 could unlock 200,000 new homes in London and the wider South East region.

BBC Inside Out investigation into fraudulent qualifications being used to secure private hire licences in London

Caroline Pidgeon: Considering the urgency of addressing the issue why have you delayed answering the three Mayoral Questions (2019/20195, 2019/20196 and 2019/20197) in November 2019 relating to the BBC Inside Out investigation highlighting fraudulent qualifications being obtained to secure private hire licences?

The Mayor: I apologise for the delay in providing these responses. These questions have now all been answered.
Please note that Transport for London has provided an update on this issue here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/06-19-topographical-skills-assessments.pdf.

Prioritising the Needs of Older People

Jennette Arnold: Elderly residents within my constituency are being raising concerns that changes to bus routes in Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest are making it more difficult for them to make journeys and access local services, leaving them isolated for wider London services. What reassurance can you provide them that the needs of older people are a priority when addressing changes to the infrastructure of London?

The Mayor: I recognise the important role that the bus network and indeed the wider public transport network plays in helping older Londoners to travel around the city.
Transport for London (TfL) continuously reviews bus services to ensure they meet customers’ needs and ensure that the capacity is adequate. I recognise that changes to the bus network can have a disproportionate impact on some groups of Londoners. This is why TfL carries out an Equality Impact Assessment of significant changes. As part of the central London bus consultation TfLundertook a detailed 61-page EQIA and amended its proposals in response to consultation outcomes. For example, ensuring same stop interchanges where possible makes it easier to change between buses, and the 388 was extended to London Bridge to maintain excellent connectivity.
TfL has radically improved public transport more generally in the London Boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest over the last decade. This includes a series of frequency and capacity increases on the Victoria line, introduction of longer trains on the Gospel Oak – Barking lines and a 25 per centincrease in peak frequency on the North London line. There are also two new stations at Meridian Water and Lea Bridge with associated services. In the past year, TfL has increased frequency of bus routes 158, W11, W19, 318 and 66.
The needs of older and disabled passengers remain a priority for me across the network. The Crossrail and Thameslink projects and TfL step-free access schemes at stations such as West Hampstead, Tottenham Hale, White Hart Lane and Blackhorse Road have greatly increased the accessibility of the rail and Underground network. In addition, the London Overground network now offers ‘Turn Up and Go’ travel assistance.

Knife bins (2)

Susan Hall: For each of the years Nov 16 to Oct 17, Nov 17 to Oct 18 and Nov 18 to Oct 19, please can you provide how many knife bins have been ransacked?

The Mayor: The MPS does not directly operate any knife bins. They are distributed and managed by weapons surrender charity Word for Weapons.

BBC London's Inside Out investigation into fraudulent qualification being obtained by Private Hire Drivers (3)

Caroline Pidgeon: Since May 2016 and up to 4 November 2019 how many complaints has TfL received relating to potential abuses in the awarding of qualifications for private hire drivers?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) carried out a search of its customer complaint database from July 2017 (the earliest it is able to do so owing to a system upgrade at this time) and has identified 11 customer complaints about qualifications relevant to obtaining a private hire driver licence.
Please see my response to Mayor's Question2019/20195 for information on the action taken in relation to the recent BBC news report.